Frame changing device for quilting machine



Dec, 25, 1962 F. E. KALNING 3,070,049

FRAME CHANGING DEVICE FOR QUILTING MACHINE Filed April 1, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 25, 1962 F'. E. KALNING 3,070,049

FRAME CHANGING DEVICE FOR QUILTING MACHINE Filed April 1, 1960 4 Sheetsl$heet 2 Dec. 25, 1962 F. E. KALNING 3,070,049

FRAME CHANGING DEVICE FOR QUILTING MACHINE Filed April 1, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 25, 1962 F. E. KALNING 3,070,049

FRAME CHANGING DEVICE FOR QUILTING MACHINE Filed April 1, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 The present invention relates to improvements in quilting machines and more particularly to improvements in apparatus for changing the panel stretcher frames on which the quilting panels are mounted for the performance of the quilting operation.

The invention is herein disclosed as embodied in a quilting machine of the general type having a quilting table adapted to receive a panel stretcher frame, and a support on which the table is mounted, said table and support being adapted for movement in diverse directions with relation to a stitcher, which is adjustably mounted on a cross arm above the quilting table. The table and support are moved in diverse directions with relation to the stitching mechanism in accordance with the dictation of a pattern or templet which is located on the floor directly beneath the machine and is arranged to cooperate with a follower device which controls the relative positions of the quilting table, the quilting table support and stitcher to form lines of stitching in a quilting panel mounted on the quilting table in accordance with a pattern.

The machine is further provided with a transfer table which is located at one side of the quilting table for supporting the frame while the quilting panel is made up and stretched thereon. The transfer table is provided with ways on which the side portions of the frame rest, and which are in alignment with corresponding ways formed on the quilting table for a loading position of the quilting table.

For loading successively made up frames into the quilting machine and for withdrawing the frames and the stitched panels from the quilting machine a frame changing device is provided which comprises a pair of pivoted support arms which are adapted to engage and to withdraw a frame from the quilting machine to a position overlying and separated from the transfer table, and a pusher device which is timed with relation thereto to engage and advance a made up frame from the transfer table into the quilting machine for the performance of the next succeeding quilting operation.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a new and simplified frame changing device for the quilting machine which will operate most efficientiy with a minimum of effort on the part of the operator to replace the workedupon panel stretcher frame with a newly made up panel stretcher frame in the quilting machine.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide an improved mechanism for withdrawing rom the quilting machine and for supporting the worked-upon quilt stretcher frame in a rest position overlying the transfer table independently of the support arms by means of which the frame is withdrawn, and which is further constructed and arranged to permit the operator to shift the frame from said rest position to the normal make-up position on the transfer table.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved construction and arrangement of the quilting machine, the transfer table and the associated quilt stretcher frames which will include means for effecting a quick adjustment of the width of the individual frames and of the quilting machine for the stitching of quilting panels of different sizesv With these and other objects in view as may hereinttes Patented Dec. 25, E352 after appear the several features of the invention consist also in the devices, combinations and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, which together with the advantages be obtained hereby will be readily understood by one skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view in side elevation of the transfer table and a portion of the quilting machine table assembly, illustrating particularly the quilt stretcher frame changing mechanism, the transfer arms being shown in solid lines for the rest position, and in three dotted line positions to show successive positions of the said transfer arms during the cycle of operation to engage with and remove a worked-upon panel stretcher frame from the quilting machine to the withdrawn rest position overlying the transfer table;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view on a smaller scale illustrating substantially the parts shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a first hand elevation of the transfer table and frame changing mechanism shown in FIG. 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of one of the roller supports and associated ramp by means of which the worl ed-upon frame is eased from its elevated rest position on to the transfer table;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the supports at the far end of the transfer table by means of which the worked-upon frame indicated in dot and dash lines is supported in its elevated position;

FIGURES 6 and 7 are two similar plan views of a panel stretcher frame, FlGURE 6 showing the adjustable side of the clamping and stretching portion of the frame in its double bed width position, and FlGURE 7 showing said adjustable side portion of the frame in a single bed width position;

FIGURE 8 is a detail view taken on a line 8-8 of FIGURE 7 to illustrate particularly the mechanism for imparting a lateral stretch to the side portions of the frame and the quilting panel clamped thereon;

FIGURES 9 and 10 are somewhat diagrammatic side views showing the manual transfer of the worked-on frame from the rest position overlying the transfer table to a make-up position on the table, FIGURE 9 showing the frame in the rest position and FIGURE 10 showing the successive steps by which the frame is eased onto the transfer table; and

FIGURE 11 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view of the quilting machine transfer table and a quilting frame, indicated in dotted lines the method of adjustment of said quilting machine and frame to varying widths of quilting panel.

The quilting machine shown in the drawin s comprises generally a base 2% on which is mounted a quilt stretcher frame support assembly including a quilting table 2 2 having longitudinally extending ways 24, 26 spaced to receive a quilt stretcher frame 23. The ways 24, 26 are spaced apart the full width of the frame so that they engage respectively the two side members 29 and 30 thereof. The frame 23 is rectangular in shape being formed of said side members 2%, 3d and end pieces 32, 34 which are divided as hereinafter set forth to provide for a lateral tightenin of a quilting panel mounted by means of clamps 36 on the frame 2%.

The quilting table 22 is mounted on wheels 40 which ride on a longitudinal track 42 on a saddle support 44 which is mounted for transverse movement on wheels 46 which ride on tracks 48 secured to the machine base 20. The quilting table 22 is thus supported for movement in diverse directions with relation to a sewing machine 5% carried on a cross arm 52 of the table.

The quilting table is moved in diverse directions with relation to the sewing machine St) in accordance with a pattern which will produce the desired lines of stitching in the quilting panel by means of a follower propulsion unit comprising a motor 54 mounted on the quilting table 22, and a follower cog wheel 56 swivelled beneath and connected to be driven by the motor 54. The cog wheel 56 engages with and follows a path set by a cog track which is mounted on the floor beneath the quilting table and is so disposed as to provide the desired pattern for the producing of the stitching in the quilting panel.

Referring to FTGURES 6, 7 and 8 the panel stretcher frame 28 has mounted thereon a series of the clamps 35 above referred to which are spaced along both sides and across the ends of the frame. Along one side of the frame the clamps 36 are mounted on an adjustable bar 54, which may be positioned outwardly as shown in ElG. 6 to accommodate a double bed width quilting panel, or alternatively, may be positioned inwardly as shown in FIGURE 7 to accommodate a single bed width quilting panel. The bar is supported at its two ends in each of said positions by means of upwardly extending screw threaded pins 56 mounted on the frame 28 and adapted to pass through apertures in the corresponding end of the bar 54. Wing nuts 58 threaded to the upper ends of pins 56 serve to lock the bar 56 in place. ment it will be noted that the same panel stretcher frame is employed for the stitching of both wide and narrow quilting panels, and is therefore adapted to be supported and controlled on the transfer table and on the quilting machine always in the same manner. With the construction shown the principal effect of the adjustment to a narrower size is that a portion only of the frame is used. This relationship is clearly indicated by dotted position of the adjustable members 54 shown in FIGURE 11.

In the illustrated construction a corresponding adjustment of the quilting machine for operation upon a single bed width quilting panel is effected by substituting a suitable bed widt 1 templet or pattern 57 (shown in dotted lines in FIG. 11) for the double bed width templet $9 shown in solid lines in FIG. 11.

The movements imparted to the members of the quilt- 'ing table assembly with relation to the stitcher, determine the position and extent of the pattern produced within the area of the panel stretcher frame. The direction and extent of these movements are controlled entirely by the location and extent of the templet located on the floor, occupying the position indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 11.

Provision is made for stretching the quilting panel laterally after it has been fastened in place in the clamps 36 of the quilt stretcher frame 28. To this end each of the end members 32, 3 is made up of two relatively movable members. The end member 32 is provided with an extension so, which is connected to move lengthwise with relation thereto by means of a slide rod 62, and two blocks 64, es sleeved thereon and secured respectively to the member 32 and extension 60. The frame end members 32, 60 are forced apart in order to provide the desired stretch by means of a toggle comprising a toggle link 68 pivoted on the block as, and a connecting toggle link 70 pivoted on the block 64. A manually operable lever 72 forming part of the link 76 provides a means by which the toggle is moved to the straightened position shown in FIG. 8. An identical arrangement is provided at the opposite end of the panel stretcher frame 28, the member 34 having a separate extension member 76 in alignment therewith, said members being held in aligned position by means of blocks 78, 80 and a slide rod 82. A toggle generally indicated at 8 is connected between the two members for moving them to the relatively separated position.

The panel stretcher frame 28 is made up while supported on guide ways 92, $4 formed on the transfer table 90. The quilting panel is made up and clamped into the frame which is then expanded laterally to stretch the panel by straightening the toggle lever 72 and toggle 84. The

With this arrange- 4 side portions 29, 39 of the panel stretcher frame rest on the guide ways 92, 94 these ways being located in such position as to be in ali nment with ways 24, 26 formed on the quilting table 22 for a predetermined loading position of the quilting table.

The frame changing device herein disclosed comprises a pair of transfer arms 96, 98, see FIGURES l, 2 and 3, mounted respectively at opposite sides of the transfer table on a cross-bar forming part of a frame supported to turn on a pivot pin 102 on bearing supports res located somewhat above the floor level of the transfor table as. Each of the arms 96, 98 is provided at its upper end with a spring latch member 104 which is normally maintained in an extended position as shown for example in FIG. 1. Movement of the transfer arms forwardly to the extreme right hand position shown in dotted lines as position A causes the two latches 164 to snap. by two handles res, 108 which project outwardly from opposite sides of a worked-upon panel stretcher frame 25 supported in discharge position on the quilting table 22. During the subsequent movement of the transfer arms 96, 9? to the left the latches H34 operate as hook members to engage and to draw the worked-upon panel stretcher frame 28 upwardly and to the left to the elevated rest position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1. During this movement, the side portions of the panel stretcher frame 28 engage respectively with two rollers 10-8 and 110 mounted respectively on brackets 112, 114 which are located directly over the guideways 92, 94 toward the end of the transfer table adjacent the quilting machine. Movement of the transfer arms 96, 98 to the left causes them to pass through an intermediate position designated at B, and finally to assume a position to the extreme left designated at C. For this leftward position of the transfer arms 96, )"8 the leading end of the worked-upon panel stretcher frame 2% is brought to a rest position overlying the transfer table, in which the right hand or following end of the frame is supported on the rollers 112, 114 and the left hand or leading end is supported by engagement of the laterally extending handles 106 with two brackets 116,- 118 disposed at the left hand, more remote end of the transfer table. It will be noted that each of the brackets 116, 113 is provided with a downwardly sloping notched portion which is adapted to receive the pins 106, 1%, thus controlling the lengthwise position of the frame on the respective rollers and brackets.

Finally, the transfer arms 96, 98 are returned to the right to the normally inoperative storage position shown in full lines in PEG. 1, thus completing the cycle.

The transfer arms 96, 98 are moved through the operating cycle above described from the inoperative storage position shown in full lines FIGURE 1, first to the right and then to the extreme left, and finally back to the inoperative storage position by means of driving connections which include an electric motor 119 mounted in the base of the transfer table 96. The armature shaft of the motor is connected by a belt 120 with the input shaft 121 of a gear box 122. An output shaft 123 of the gear box carries a small pinion 124 which meshes with a large gear 125 arranged to turn about a fixed pivot 126. An eccentric pin 127 formed on one face of the gear 125 is connected by a link 128 with the frame which forms the base portion of the transfer arms 96, 98. During each frame changing cycle of the machine the motor 119 is driven a sufiicient length of time to rotate the large gear 125 and eccentric pin 127 through exactly one revolution. The operation of the motor 119 is readily con trolled by means of a simple electric circuit which will include a manually operable start switch, and a stop switch adapted to be operated by the rotation of the large gear 125 through one full revolution to its initial inoperative position.

At the same time that the worked-upon panel stretcher frame 28 is withdrawn from the quilting machine and is brought to its rest position overlying the transfer table,

ao'raoaa 9d the pusher device is rendered operative to advance a newly made up panel stretcher frame 28 from the transfer table onto the quilting table 22. Said device (see FIG- URES l, 2 and 3) comprises an endless sprocket chain 13d which runs lengthwise of the transfer table 90 in a slot 132. The sprocket chain ll3tl is supported at its right hand end, as viewed in FlGURES l and 2, by means of a sprocket 1354 supported on a pin 136 in bearings formed in the table. At its left hand end the sprocket chain 133 is supported on a driving sprocket 133 carried on a jack shaft Mil. The shaft fat. is driven in timed relation to the large eccentric supporting gear 125 by means of a sprocket chain 144 which rides on sprockets f le, 14% carried respectively on the jack shaft 14'!) and on the gear box input shaft 12f.

A pusher 3152 mounted on the endless sprocket chain is arranged to be actuated by the advancing movement of the chain to move the pusher 152; against the left hand end of a panel stretcher frame 23 mounted on ways 94 on the transfer table 99 and advances same onto the aligned ways 24, of the quilting table 22. The pusher starts from the position shown in FIGURE 1. it is first moved to the left along the under side of the transfer table 90 during that portion of the cycle of the transfer arms in which the worked-upon panel stretcher frame 23 is engaged and is withdrawn onto the support rollers 1%, 119. About the time the workedupon panel stretcher frame 28 is moved out of the way the pusher engages against and starts to advance the replacement panel stretcher frame 2% from its make-up. position on the transfer table into the quilting machine. The pusher 152 is finally returned to the rest position specifically shown in FIGURE 1.

The construction shown in which the transfer arms 96, 98 are normally supported in a rest position substantially to the right and in which substantially the first half of the operating cycle is occupied with the movement of the worked-upon panel stretcher frame from the quilting machine to the withdrawn rest position, whereas the latter half of the operating cycle of the pusher mechanism is occupied with the advance of the newly made up panel s etcher frame into the quilting machine, has the substan al advantage that the operation of the transfer arms 96, and of the pusher device comprising endless chain 152 are permitted to overlap so that substantially no time is lost in the performance of the frame chan ing operation.

The overhead structure which is employed to support the worked-upon panel stretcher frame in its overhead rest position is particularly constructed and arranged to assist the operator in moving the said frame down onto the transfer table for the removal of the completed or stitched quilting panel and for the making-up of a new quilting panel on said fran e. To this end a pair of ramps 1'72, 174 are provided pivotally mounted on the brackets H2, 114 coaxially with the rollers 1%, llllll. These ramps are normally held in a raised inoperative position by means of light torsion springs 376. When the panel stretcher frame is to be moved from its rest position onto the transfer table, the operator grasps the left hand end of the frame as shown in FIGURES 9 and and lifts the end thereof to free the pins ill-6, from the brackets Elli), lift, and then moves the entire frame to the left away mm the quilting machine so that the ends of the side portions 29 and of the frame engage and will ride down the ramps which are tilted downwardly by the weight of the right hand end of the frame. The operator is thus enabled to ease the frame down onto the transfer table without the expenditure of much effort and without any shock or jar to the frame. As the frame is moved to the left off the ramps the ramps are permitted to move up to the inoperative position shown in full lines in FIGURE 1, and the frame can then be moved right to the normal working position on the transfer table.

The invention having been described what is claimed is:

1. In a quilting machine havin a stitching mechanism and a quilting table relatively movable in a plurality of directions in accordance with a pattern, and means including a templet positioned in said machine for relatively guiding said sewing mechanism and quilting table to produce lines of stitching, the combination of a plurality of panel stretcher frames, each said frame having side and end members, a series of Side and end panel clamps fixedly mounted along one side and both ends of said panel stretch r frame, a so 'es of side clamps disposed at the opp s side of said panel stretcher frame from said fixedly mounted side clamps and a bar supporting said latter clamps, means for securing said bar to the panel stretcher frame in alternative positions spaced from said fixedly mounted side clamps to provide clamping areas for a quilting anel said clamps in accordhelo by ance with the quilting panel width, a panel stretcher frame changing device which comprises a transfer table disposa adjacent said quilting table, a pair of panel stretcher frame receiving guides on qlting table spaced for engagement with the side moi r-bers of the panel stretcher frame, a second pair of panel frame receiving guides mounte on the transfer table arranged for one position of said quilting table in alignment with said panel receiving guides on said quilting table, and transfer means mounted on the transfer table including a pair of transfer arms supported at each side of the transfer table operable to draw a panel stretcher frame from the sewing table over said transfer table, and means operable thereafter to advance a second panel stretcher frame from said transfer table guides onto said sewing table guides, individual templets for the quilting machine selected to correspond with the size and position of the clamping area defined by said clamps in the panel stretcher frame, and means for positioning the selected templet in the quilting machine to produce said lines of stitching within the clamping area in the panel stretcher frame.

2. For use in a quilting machine having a stitching mechanism, and a quilting table relatively movable in a plurality of directio s in accordance with a p tern to produce lines of stitching, said quilting table having guides to receive a panel stretcher frame, the combination with a plurality of interchangeable panel stretcher frames supporting quilting panels during said quilt stitching operation, of a panel stretcher frame changing device which comprises a transfer table having panel stretcher frame receiving guides arranged for one position of said quilting table to be in alignment with said quilting table panel stretcher frame receiving guides, a pair of panel frame support rollers disposed on the transfer table above said transfer table guides adjacent the quilting table, a pair of panel stretcher frame support members fixedly disposed on the transfer tabl above said guides at the end of said transfer table remote from the quilting machine, transfer means mounted on the transfer table including transfer arms supported at each side of the transfer table for movement from a storage position to draw a panel stretcher frame from the sewing table onto said rollers and support members in a position overlying said transfer table and thereafter for return movement to said storage position, and means operable during said return movement to advance a second panel stretcher frame from said transfer table guides onto said sewin table.

3. For use in a quilting machine having a stitching mechanism and a quilting table relatively movable in a plurality of directions in accordance with a pattern, and means including a templet positioned in said machine for guiding said sewing mechanism and quilting table to produce lines of stitching, the combination with a plurality of interchangeable panel stretcher frames for supporting quilting panels during said quilt stitching operation, each said panel stretcher frame having at one end handles projecting outwardly at each side thereof, of means for changing said panel stretcher frames in said quilting machine comprising a transfer table having guideways spaced to engage thereon the side portions of said panel stretcher frames to be made up on said transfer table, a pair of panel stretcher frame support rollers disposed above the transfer table guide-ways toward the end of the transfer table adjacent the quilting machine, panel stretcher frame handle engaging support members disposed above the transfer table outwardly of said guideways at the end of the transfer table remote from the quilting machine, a pair of transfer arms movable longitudinally of said transfer table at opposite sides thereof from a storage position between an advanced position for engagement with a worked-upon panel stretcher frame on the quilting table, and a retracted position in which said worked-upon panel stretcher frame is withdrawn onto said rollers and supporting means overlying the transfer table, and thereafter back to said storage position, means including a pusher movable lengthwise of he transfer table to engage and advance a made up panel stretcher frame mounted on the transfer table into the quilting machine, and operating means acting when rendered operative to move said arms from said storage position forwardly to engage a worked-upon panel stretcher frame on the quilting machine, and then rearwardly to draw said worked-upon panel stretcher frame onto said support rollers and support members in a discharge position overlying said transfer table and then back to said storage position, and during said movements of said arms to cause the pusher to advance a made up panel stretcher frame from the transfer table into the quilting machine.

4. For use in a quilting machine having a stitching mechanism and a quilting table relatively movable in a plurality of directions in accordance with a pattern, and means including a templet positioned in said machine for relatively guiding said sewing mechanism and quilting table to produce lines of stitching, a device for changing panel stretcher frames in a quilting machine which comprises, in combination, a transfer table, each of said quilting table and transfer table having mounted thereon guides to receive a panel stretcher frame to be made up on said transfer table and said guides being arranged for a loading position of said quilting table to be in alignment with one another, a pair of support rollers on the transfer table over said guides at the end thereof adjacent the quilting machine to engage and support a panel stretcher frame withdrawn from the quilting machine, a pair of support members for said panel stretcher frame mounted at the far end of the transfer table from the quilting machine, a pair of transfer arms disposed at opposite sides of the transfer table movable from a storage position between a fully advanced position to engage with a panel stretcher frame in the quilting machine, and a fully withdrawn position in which the worked-upon panel stretcher frame in the quilting machine is withdrawn onto the support rollers and onto said support members, and thereafter back to said storage position.

5. For use in a quilting machine having a stitching mechanism and a quilting table relatively movable in a plurality of directions, and means including a templet positioned in said machine for relatively guiding said sewing mechanism and quilting table to produce lines of stitching in accordance with a pattern, the combination with a plurality of interchangeable panel stretcher frames for supporting quilting panels during said quilt stitching operation, each said panel stretcher frame having at one (3 us end handles projecting outwardly 'at each side thereof, of means for changing said panel stretcher frames in said quilting machine, comprising a transfer table located adjacent said quilting table having guides to receive thereon a panel stretcher frame to be made up with a quilting panel, and means for supporting a second panel stretcher frame on said transfer table in a position overlying and separated from said first panel stretcher frame, comprising a pair of support rollers overlying the ends of the respective guides adjacent the quilting table, a pair of support members disposed outwardly of and above said respective guides at the ends of said guides remote from the quilting table for engagement with said handles, and a pair of ramps pivotally supported from said roller supports on which said completed stretcher frame may be guided downwardly onto the transfer table by an operator manipulating the far end of said frame.

6. For use in a quilting machine having a stitching mechanism, and a quilting table relatively movable in a plurality of directions in accordance with a pattern to produce lines of stitching, said quilting table having guides to receive a panel stretcher frame, the combination with a plurality of interchangeable panel stretcher frames supporting quilting panels during said quilt stitching operation, of a panel stretcher frame changing device com prising a transfer table having panel stretcher frame receiving guides arranged for one position of said quilting table to be in alignment with said quilting table panel stretcher frame receiving guides, a pair of panel stretcher frame support rollers disposed on the transfer table above said transfer table guides adjacent the quilting table, a pair of panel stretcher frame support members fixedly disposed on the transfer tableabove said guides at the end of said transfer table remote from the quilting machine, a pair of transfer arms movable longitudinally of said transfer table at opposite sides thereof from a storage position between an advanced position for engagement with a worked-upon panel stretcher frame on the quilting table, and a retracted position in which said worked-upon panel stretcher frame is withdrawn onto said rollers and support members overlying the transfer table, and thereafter back to said storage position, a pusher device comprising a flexible carrier, and a pusher thereon having a rearward movement beneath the transfer table and a panel stretcher frame engaging feed movement forwardly on the transfer table, and a driving mechanism for said support arms and pusher which comprises a motor, an eccentric driven by the motor, a link connecting said escentric to advance and retract said support arms, and a driving connection between the motor and said flexible carrier geared to produce one full circuit of said pusher for each full revolution of said eccentric.

References @ited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

